1 Ephesians 5.22-33 Forever Love with Skin On SCARRY Thunderstorm - Mom to Bedroom Several X s - COMFORT Daughter Prayed WITH her > Don t be afraid, GOD is with you > Started to LEAVE Mommy, I know God is with me BUT I NEED Someone WITH SKIN ON!! Christmas Time we REMEMBER God s Forever Love with Skin On GOD So Loved World gave us all Christmas Present of ONLY SON NOW We are BODY of Christ > World Find & Feel EMMANUEL in Church So far in Ephesians 5 Somewhat ABSTRACT IDEAS - Love, Light, Truth, Spirit Rest of Letter > Paul will PUT SKIN ON THESE ETERNAL TRUTHS Describes them Lived Out: Marriage, Children, Workplace, Daily Battle of Faith 1 st RELATIONSHIP > Marriage > Affects NEARLY All of Us Urge you to HEAR this Message even IF you are NOT MARRIED Now Most BROUGHT Into World thru FAMILY > May be CLONES Among Us? Most Us THOUGHT of Marriage, Now Married, Tried Married, Failed Married Some WISH they were Married Others GLAD they re NOT > VITAL Topic HOT TOPIC - RELATED QUESTIONS - Divorce, Polygamy, Homosexuality Paul is POLARIZING Figure Radical & Revolutionary Ideas 1 st C & 21 st C in the twenty-first century, we forget that (Paul s) model has always throughout the ages been a challenge to the cultural norms of the day (marriage) is a calling Spirit-filled men and women specifically called to be worthy in their marriage relationships Paul Gardner 1. Marriage: Revealed in Scripture EVERY PRODUCT - "for best results, follow instructions of manufacturer MARRIAGE - CREATION OF GOD / Owner's Manual Holy Scripture
2 JESUS was ASKED Hard Questions about MARRIAGE / DIVORCE answered: Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female Matthew 19.4 Commonly CHARGED that Jesus NEVER talked about HOMOSEXUALITY What Jesus DID here was ENDORSE God s CREATION Plan for Marriage ONE Man married to ONE Woman for LIFE All Else FALLS SHORT TELLS US If Want to Understand Marriage - GO BACK TO BEGINNING LET US LOOK INTO 1 st Book of BIBLE - SEE WHAT IT TEACHES Begins with God s BENEDICTION over ALL CREATION on 6 th Day God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. Genesis 1.31 God KNOWS WHAT is GOOD > PERFECT Understanding of GOOD & EVIL TREE of KNOWLEDGE of Good & Evil SYMBOLIZED His Authority a. God Makes Partners HE made ALL VERY GOOD / KNOWS Perfectly what IS Good, says: Then the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone Genesis 2.18 NO SOUL Mate for Adam NO INTIMATE Life Partner No HELPMEET Man is a social being, made for fellowship, not power: he will not live until he loves, giving himself away to another on his own level. Derek Kidner ANIMALS he Just NAMED will Not Fully Satisfy Need for COMPANION 1) Social v. 18 "not good for the man to be alone SAD & LONELY WORD NO EVE > SAD and LONELY WORLD > ALL PEOPLE come from HER Adam named his wife Eve, because she would become the mother of all the living. Genesis 3.20 Next Time SQUEEZED Subway, THANK EVE for all our HUMAN FAMILY!
3 BEING Alone Never Good Married or Single > Family, Friends, Church Pray that ZGC will be REAL FAMILY to One Another, esp HOLIDAY Season 2) Service Adam CREATED to be WORKER > Eve made to HELP him WORK The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. Genesis 2.15 In Ephesians TEACHING about MARRIAGE FOLLOWS SERVICE Building UP the Body of Christ God s 1 st PRIORITY for Men & Women IF you Marry should be to SERVE God Better > Advance Kingdom of God Looking for HUSBAND or WIFE? 1 st Quality should be SERVANTHOOD WASHES Dishes, Teaches Kids, Feeds Homeless, Filled with Compassion 3) Sexual v. 25 The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame. EMBARRASSING to READ - WE FEEL SHAME - WE ARE SINNERS Verse EULOGY of GLORY of ADAM and EVE in GOD'S PERFECTION SEX is GIFT of GOD for Pleasure - Not just Procreation Hedonist: Chief Goal is Pleasure / Christian seeks Holiness even in Bedroom So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. Then the man said, This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Genesis 2.21-23 One LIKE him but WONDERFULLY DIFFERENT: WOW! MAN spoke CA WHAT a Woman in PRISTINE GLORY Wonder Woman / Miss Universe God himself, like a father of the bride, leads the woman to the man. Man and Woman / True Partnership - PERFECT COMPLIMENT G. von Rad
4 b. Man Makes Promises Marriage NOT for Everyone, Does NOT Complete You or Guarantee Happiness CHOICE you Can Make > Every Choice carries RESPONSIBILITIES 1) Ultimate Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother Genesis 2.24 If you Choose Marriage > NO HUMAN Being is MORE IMPORTANT to You! Other important things: Parents, Children, Friends, Work, even Church 2 nd Place IF you are their Parents, Kids, Friends, Church Please RESPECT THIS! 2) Permanent and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh Genesis 2.24 Marriage Not JUST Convenience or Contract COVENANT with God The marriage covenant is only to be broken by death. IRONY Many People want to MAKE SURE they re Ready for BIG Decision by LIVING TOGETHER before Marriage STATS Divorce Rates HIGHER for those who Played House before Marriage If you LIVE Together without Commitment to Marry > SELFISH SELFISHNESS brings DEATH to MARRIAGE God DESIGNED Marriage to be Forever Love with Skin On 3) Intimate - Socially, Spiritually, Sexually Best Friends > Nothing to Hide And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed. Genesis 2.25 ACCEPT ONE ANOTHER DESPITE IMPERFECTIONS People Need INTIMACY / Companionship > Even if NOT MARRIED We must live in a house with no roof and no walls. East African Revival Good MOTTO for ALL of Life esp. Protect INTIMACY & Trust of Marriage
5 2. Marriage: Ruined by Sin The LORD God commanded the man, saying, You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die. Genesis 2.16,17 ALL Wonderful CHOICES in God s Garden Make ONE Forbidden Choice INTERNET Great Tool could ENRICH Minds & EDIFY our Souls Some People too Many People - Set all Bookmarks to NASTY Sites! TREE Likely Real Tree with some Tasty Fruit Symbol of God s Authority Asks Who s In Charge? What is Source of Truth? Determines Good and Evil? EATING FRUIT - Rejection of God and His Authority / SLAP in His face RESULT? - Death and Judgment on Them & Everything / Including Marriage GOD the Offended Maker and Judge Enters CRIME SCENE of Eden Sees Remnants of Half-Eaten FRUIT > GUILTY Pair Hiding among LEAVES! NAKED Innocence LOST > NOW Covered with SHAME and GUILT SIN is Total GAME-CHANGER Smog, Suffering, and Separation BEGIN a. Husband: Irresponsible God said, Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat? The man said, The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate. Genesis 3.11,12 ADAM GIVEN COMMAND - HEAD OF FAMILY - MOST RESPONSIBLE ADAM STARTS BLAME GAME Every MAN After him STILL PLAYING! Adam - Blamed Woman AND God / LUTHER: Adam "YOU Lord have sinned" Today: Men want SEX w/out Marriage > Force Pregnant Women ABORTION
6 UNFAITHFUL to Wedding VOWS > Neglect Child SUPPORT WOW!! Really BAD STUFF!! Must be Somebody ELSE S FAULT!! c. Wife: Dominant - If he won t run things, then I sure will! To the woman he (God) said, I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you. Genesis 3.16 "DESIRE" That s GOOD Right!!?? - Wife will Love her husband?? Context CURSE > Pain / Partnership SHATTERED / Desire = Negative SAME WORD in English & Hebrew God s WARNING to Cain Next chptr... if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it. Genesis 4.7 So here in early chapters of Bible -- DESIRE = CONTROL AS THE MAN FAILS TO TAKE UP HIS RESPONSIBILITY WOMAN SAYS "don't worry honey, I'll take care of it" / MAN "good now I don't have to do it" VICIOUS CYCLE - IRRESPONSIBLE / DOMINANCE - Family Collapse BOTH "Women's Liberation" and "Male Chauvinism" RESULTS OF FALL Now have HAPPY CHRISTMAS Background to Consider Ephesians 5 3. Marriage: Restored through Salvation Great News Ephesians > Undeserved, Wondrous, Salvation of God Salvation so POWERFUL Everything Changes > Cosmic, Comprehensive GLORY of Risen & Exalted Jesus > God s Forever Love with Skin On Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places Ephesians 1.3
7 EVERY means Every > MERCY for ME and for MY MARRIAGE!! This is the GOSPEL TONIC that Irresponsible Husbands, Dominant Wives, and Sin-Sick Marriages Need. that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith Ephesians 3.16,17 HEALING BALM of GRACE Applied Right to Open Wound from EDEN Men & Women Saved by Grace, Filled by Spirit of God > Can Reverse CURSE My NEXT 2 Sermons focus on HUSBAND and Wife, brief comments now a. Wives: Loving Submission - Submit Like Jesus Wives, a submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. Ephesians 5.22 SOME WOMEN "my husband just won't be the leader of our home" Not Easy! Sometimes Wives WILL NOT YIELD TO HIS LEADERSHIP WORD "Submit" - NEEDS UNDERSTANDING NOT - Dictator, Superior, Exclusive Decision Maker, Always Right After Discussion > HUSBAND RESPONSIBLE FOR FINAL OUTCOME When his PLAN FAILS > Wife will say, I TOLD YOU SO! --- NO!! My WIFE says "That's Right, my Husband is the Head" BUT I AM THE NECK THAT MOVES THE HEAD!! v. 22 as to the Lord Not Because Man is Good, Even if he s UNBELIEVER SUBMISSION is to the LORD
8 b. Husbands: Loving Leadership Love Like Jesus Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her Ephesians 5.25 DOES NOT THINK OF HIMSELF FIRST - BUT THE NEEDS OF WIFE JACOB LOVED RACHEL SO MUCH HE WORKED 14 YRS FOR HER but they seemed like only a few days because of his love for her HAPPY WIFE MEANS A HAPPY HUSBAND - Husband takes the LEAD By GRACE > STRENGTH to Do What Only GOD can ENABLE Us to do HUSBAND: Love & Lead like Jesus / WIFE: Submit & Serve like Jesus PEOPLE DO NOT NEED DIVORCE - THEY NEED CHRIST DIVORCE - AVOIDS PROBLEMS // CHRIST - REMOVES PROBLEMS "I do not think there are wrong marriages, only wrong people. There is nothing final and unchangeable about the wrongness of people...i've never seen a marriage that could not be saved. But I have seen plenty that died because one or both partners did not want to pay the price to save the relationship"marriage Counselor TRIANGLE STRONGEST GEOMETRIC SHAPE THREE-WAY LOVE COMMITMENT is STRONGEST HUSBAND & WIFE Submitted to EACH Other UNDER Christ IF you re LOOKING for Life Partner > LOOK for Such Person like this NOW Foolish Idea > When you GET MARRIED you can CHANGE a Person REAL Change Learn DISAPPOINTING things about Your Prince or Princess
Without a sure relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, we simply do not have the strength or security necessary to sacrifice for the good of another the only resource we have that enables us to love as Christ requires is His own love Only when we rest in his love can we reflect it Bryan Chapell TWO THINGS ARE NECESSARY FOR A BLESSED MARRIAGE CONSIDER WHAT TO LOOK FOR IF YOU ARE NOT YET MARRIED 1) a godly man who lovingly leads as Christ loved the church 2) a godly woman who lovingly submits to her husband as to the Lord 9 c. THE Bridegroom Does Good Marriage just COME NATURALLY?? I WISH! But SADLY Our NATURE IS SINFUL - NEED POWER OF GOD vs. 31,32 Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. Paul refers with wonder to the spiritual union between Christ and the church. For he exclaims that this is a great mystery no language can do it justice...the great mystery is that Christ breathes into the Church His own life and power John Calvin There are three things that are too amazing for me, four that I do not understand: the way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a snake on a rock, the way of a ship on the high seas, and the way of a man with a maiden. Proverbs 30.18,19 Marriage is CLOSEST Human Relationship God Created > TWO become One Created for OUR GOOD AND for God s GLORY Marriage POINTS to Our ETERNAL Love Relationship with Him in Christ PROPHETS Promised we will be BLISSFULLY United to God FOREVER
10 For your Maker is your husband -- the LORD Almighty is His name 54.5 Isaiah I will betroth you to me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion. Hosea 2.19 PAUL SAW HIMSELF as NEW Covenant GOSPEL MATCHMAKER I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him. 2 Corinthians 11.2 With ALL THE PASSION & EXCITEMENT OF ROMANCE GOD USES THIS MOST INTIMATE OF ALL RELATIONSHIPS AS A FITTING SYMBOL OF HIS GREAT LOVE FOR HIS PEOPLE as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you Isaiah 62.5 "It was he who sought us and joined us to Himself through spiritual marriage. He courted us. He won our love He took the vows first of all: 'I, Jesus, take thee, sinner, to be my wedded wife; and I do promise and covenant, before God and these witnesses, to be thy loving and faithful Savior and Bridegroom; in plenty and in want, in joy and in sorrow, in sickness and in health, for this life and for eternity.' And we looked up into His face and said the same vows after Him to Him...we took His name and became His. Before we were Miss Sinner. Now we have become Mrs. Christian - "Christ-one." Now we must be careful to keep His name unspotted by the world. Have you done that? James Boice INVITATION is OUT - DO NOT MISS YOUR GREAT WEDDING DAY
11 Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb. Revelation 19.9 Ephesians 5. 22 Wives, a submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. 25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. 28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members of his body. 31 Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. 33 However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband. Genesis 2. 18 Then the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him. 21 So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. 22 And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. 23 Then the man said, This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. 24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. 25 And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed. Genesis 2.18,21-25
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